Free At-Home Nurse Visits Available To Mercer County Moms

MERCER COUNTY, NJ — New moms in Mercer County can get free home visits from the nurse, thanks to a new program from Trenton Health Team.

The Trenton Health Team (THT) is partnering with Central Jersey Family Health Consortium, Capital Health, and Family Connects International to provide free at-home nurse visits to parents who live in the county and have their babies at Capital Health.

The Family Connects program is the first of its kind in New Jersey.

Around 2000 families a year will benefit from this program, Trenton Health said in a statement. The Burke Foundation and the New Jersey Department of Children and Families are providing support for this initiative.

The Family Connects pilot program aligns with recommendations made by the Nurture NJ Strategic Plan, an initiative of NJ’s First Lady Tammy Murphy.

She said the vision of the Nurture NJ Maternal and Infant Health Strategic Plan is to create an environment where all women have the opportunity to receive support after childbirth

“Built through the incredible partnership of The Burke Foundation, Trenton Health Team, Central Jersey Family Health Consortium, Capital Health, Family Connects International and the New Jersey Department of Children and Families, this pilot across Mercer County brings us one step closer to making New Jersey the safest, most equitable place in the nation to deliver and raise a baby,” Murphy said in a statement.

Two-thirds of infant deaths occur within 28 days of birth, according to THT’s 2019 Community Health Needs and Assets report.

In Mercer County, the infant mortality rate is 7.0 infant deaths per 1,000 live births. This exceeds both state and national rates (4.1 and 5.9 respectively).

In 2020, THT began planning and site preparation to launch a Family Connects pilot program for Capital Health patients with newborn infants who choose to participate, regardless of income status.

The model is designed to support the health and well-being of all newborns and their families by offering them 1-3 home visits by a highly-trained registered nurse and linking them to community resources that meet their needs and preferences.

“Every parent of a newborn has questions and we believe a nurse’s home visit will help identify and address any concerns,” Emily Baggett, THT Senior Director of Policy and Strategy, said in a statement.

“THT is excited and proud to work CJFHC to support parents, families and babies across Mercer County.”